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What do you consider ’long’?

Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Long Hair Happenings
Forum Name: Long Hair Support
Forum Description: Growing it long takes commitment and support.
URL: /forum_posts.php?TID=28971
Printed Date: Jan 27, 2025 at 5:17am


Topic: What do you consider ’long’?
Posted By: GoldieLocks92
Subject: What do you consider ’long’?
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 3:36pm
I was just thinking about all of the different stages your hair goes through when you grow it out and I wanted to know what you guys consider long. Do you think it should be measured by the length in inches or its length in contrast to the person wearing it?
~A

-------------
Hair is BSL+ as of 9/15/05



Replies: 48
Posted By: GoldieLocks92
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 3:36pm
I was just thinking about all of the different stages your hair goes through when you grow it out and I wanted to know what you guys consider long. Do you think it should be measured by the length in inches or its length in contrast to the person wearing it?
~A < -, aaja4 2 ,$.,` /,,b0   ,!) (b 


Posted By: Katja
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 4:47pm

definitely its length in contrast to the person wearing it.  for example, my hair is about 20 inches long and falls about halfway between the middle of my back and my waist- it's pretty long, but i'm only five feet tall.  i have a friend who is about 5'10" and her hair is the same length in inches as mine, but only falls a few inches past her shoulders.  also, think of little girls whose hair falls down past their waist, but if you measure their hair it's only like 10 inches. 

so to me, body type is definitely more important in how long your hair is than simply its length in inches.

$ Ca'ba dbd $!(,`b $4`r .-% !,$ !%!),, `p #


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 6:02pm
Hi Goldielocks,

Katja makes a good point that the perceived length depends on the size of the person.

Assuming that you are talking about what length constitutes "long" for a given person, well, that is a subjective question.  What is long to some people might be "medium" or even short, to other people.  Most stylists sell the notion that long is just below the shoulders, but from the perspective of someone who has hair to their knees, how can just-below-shoulder-length be long?

P.S. to Katja - I'm guessing you've measured your hair from the crown of your head, to the ends.  Lots of people with long hair measure from the hairline of your forehead, over the top of your head, and down to the ends.  True, it results in a number which is longer than the longest strands on your head, but it provides a consistent and stable point from which to take measurements.  You could conceivably measure your hair at intervals (say, once per month), and determine how much growth you gained during the month, with a reasonable degree of precision.


Posted By: Katja
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 7:07pm
hmm... i never thought of doing that.  that might measuring it easier actually, thanks! $ Ca'ba dbd $!(,`b $4`r .-% !,$ !%!),, `p #


Posted By: AnaisSatin
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 9:15pm

Definitely relative. And for those actively growing out their hair, it's never long ENOUGH..... :7D  That's hair anorexia for ya!

Anais, sufferer.

$$ )'```ara $).,`` %*,`r !,,!-- ,,)-% ! " $4


Posted By: laststar
Date Posted: Mar 22, 2005 at 9:44pm
I agree Anais,  it is definitly relitive.  It does seem to never be long enough but I think we are  getting there.  The longer it gets the better I like it.

Happy growing ya'all
hope we all make great progress in 05

0 - Ai dape ),4 `b ($0 ` .& !! -$ %-!!-0" '.


Posted By: Gear Girl
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2005 at 12:08am

I think if anything is above the chin it is short, if it is between the chin and shoulders it is medium.  If it is past the shoulders is long.  Once it passes BSL (or midback for the guys out there) I would say it is XL (extra long). 

Some one with a pixie cut, on the other hand, might consider hair hair that is down to the shoulders to be long.  Maybe some one with hair down to the floor things hair has to be down to their waist to be extra long.

 



Posted By: eKatherine
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2005 at 6:20am
Lots of people have hair down to their waist, so I think that's still just long. I think extra long is longer than classic.


Posted By: leia1979
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2005 at 3:18pm

I agree...long is different to everyone.  I think BSL or longer is "long" personally.  But I know a lot of places I've gone to get my hair cut think shoulder-length is long...that's why I don't go often.

Also, Katherine, what's "classic"?  I've heard it mentioned before, but I don't know what that length is.



Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: Mar 23, 2005 at 6:15pm
Hi Leia,

"Classic" length is the bottom of your bottom.  At the point where it meets your thighs. 


Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: Mar 24, 2005 at 7:02am
"Constrast to the person" for me too.  I still don't feel longhaired, but the point where I noticed the ends of my hair were further from my chin than the length of my face - was where it first started to look "long" to me.  (But maybe that's just because of my long face).


!)) C ed``d ` %44`r #.,bb $ !,) ! (!) !!$` ,.


Posted By: enfys
Date Posted: Mar 24, 2005 at 3:07pm

Ooh, my first post on the jazzed up site.  Long time no see guys!

I consider BSL+ to be long personally, but when I'm with friends I use past shoulders to describe "long" because to them that *is* long.  They think me and my classic length locks are insane/just plain ridiculous (n.b., these are my friends, and they do mean that affectionately )

$- P cn`dp0% 00BB .(4`p /.%%%,-)! !!%,!,`" !,


Posted By: duke
Date Posted: Mar 25, 2005 at 5:30am

Long is certainly long in relation to the individual person. Here are my (arbitrary but based on how I interpret societal standards) rules of thumb:

Men: if hair covers the ears but is still shaped all around, and is above the collar in the back, it's still, I think medium length. If it gets much longer or is in a bob, that is about the begining of long. Midway between these standards would be "longish", and a mullet is difficult to classify. Sort of half-half.

Women: hair more or less just touching the shoulders "longish". Several inches down the shoulder is the begining of long (I'd say about the tip of the shoulder blades is very clearly so) but not very long.

So few people have hair down to their waist and it is already such a length that I would call that really long already, even elbow length would satisfy this.



Posted By: GoldieLocks92
Date Posted: Mar 25, 2005 at 10:26pm
Thanks for all your replies everybody!   
I got a good average on what people thought and now I know where I stand next to you guys who know so much on all this long hair stuff.

~A    < -, aaja4 2 ,$.,` /,,b0   ,!) (b 


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: Mar 27, 2005 at 11:50am
Good to see you back here, enfys!

Duke, how would you categorize my calf-length hair?



Posted By: duke
Date Posted: Mar 28, 2005 at 10:50am

Dave, your hair is calf-length? DUDE

I would say ultra-long is the right category. You are going for the Guinness Book!



Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: Mar 28, 2005 at 12:28pm

Welcome back enfys!

Duke...I could almost hear you saying....DUDE....it certainly gave me a good chuckle.

I often receive photos from photographers for review and they will mark them short, medium, long.  WHOA.  The long is often just to the shoulders and I am like rubbing my eyes going.  HUH?  To the outside anyone with hair below the middle of their back is consider to have VERY long hair.  It is pretty amusing what people w/out long hair lust considers the longer lengths. :-)

 !$ Shab` dbe ,%4 b` , 8bp - )%! )-% !$ -,$`r /2


Posted By: Bob S
Date Posted: Mar 30, 2005 at 2:39pm

It also depends upon the person's history to me. If a short-haired woman grows it out, then I consider shoulder blades "long". If someone goes from waist-length to shoulder blades, I'd call it "medium". One lady cashier at a convenient store who had waist length hair with plenty of body did just this the day before Easter. She told me the hairdresser asked her if she was really sure, and she replied she had to get rid of "damage". Man, if her hair had "damage", everyone needs a haircut! But anyway, to me, this woman no longer has "long" hair. If other organs weren't holding it in place, my heart would have fallen to my toes!   Bob



Posted By: Lady Godiva
Date Posted: Mar 31, 2005 at 8:48am

What the salon industry considers long is different from what we'd consider long, that's for sure.  Now, among those of us with long hair, our definitions can even differ, too.

For me, long begins at about BSL location for women and men (if they wore 'em), which is slightly shorter than midback to my eyes.  Then, very long begins about tailbone/classic length, and super long begins about knee length.

As for which measuring system to use (body markers or measuring tape), both have value.  The former is easier to picture and provides natural goal lengths, while the latter provides a more technical system for charting growth rates and projecting goal achievements, as well as comparing lengths on different individuals for scientific purposes like calculating averages.  Body markers just can't be as accurate, because a 5' short-waisted person's hair will be noticably shorter than a 6' long-waisted person's hair, which actually will be much longer, while both are at the same body marker.  For myself, I've learned to provide the inches and immediately note where that falls on my frame, which provides the most complete answer, if someone asks (which they often do).

Jennifer Eve

< -, aaja4 0 $ 4`r <$`2!$) -$)$!,-%-, bp .


Posted By: enfys
Date Posted: Apr 1, 2005 at 2:52pm

Hey, you remember me!  Man, it's good to be back!

It's hard to be accurate.  I think that proportions and the individual's height is important to take into account.

Dave, two questions -

1.Do you have any idea how naughty a member I feel when I find out how much of your growth I've missed.

2.Ever had a "hair stuck in wellies" problem like the (hopefully) hypothetical "hair stuck in rear end crack" style problems lol?

Last time I was here you were only knee length.  Well done

$- P cn`dp0% 00BB .(4`p /.%%%,-)! !!%,!,`" !,


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: Apr 3, 2005 at 5:41pm
Hi Enfys,

(1) Please don't feel badly.  I don't have terribly much (quantity of) hair beyond the point where it was 3 years ago -- because the last 12-15 inches are quite thin.

What are you gonna do with your next 3 years' growth?  Keep it, and enjoy it? 

(2) Actually, I've never had that problem.  Somehow I've managed to avoid it.  But I do occasionally get hair in odd places.  Always pulling it out of the laundry, both after the washer and the dryer.  And it does tend to pile up on the floor in places - get the toes wrapped in it and I'll hear the occasional "snap" sound 'cause I'm stepping on the other end with the other foot.

Back to the topical question, I certainly don't consider shoulder-length or a bit below (on women) as being "long."  I consider that to be "medium."  To me, "short" is chin or shorter.  Long is at least mid-back, and super-long (to me, on others) is below waist-length.  Even that is biased toward shorter lengths.  Given the extent of my strands, and similar (but opposite) bias of the styling industry, I might consider my hair as super-long, knee-length as long, "classic" length as "medium," and waist-length or less as "short."  Pretty funny, right?  Goes to show you how ridiculous the styling industry's definitions are.



Posted By: chgurlsng
Date Posted: Apr 3, 2005 at 8:30pm
Just wondering, does anyone on here not cut their hair for religious reasons?  Is there already a thread for that?

-Char


Posted By: Hal
Date Posted: Apr 5, 2005 at 12:04pm

I get my "personal" classes of hair length from the general population and what I see there.  Given the vast magority of women have hair bra strap or shorter I'll start with that.  Bra Strap of longer, to me is REALLY long.  Bra Strap to 2 or 3 inches below shoulders is long. From there to mid neck is medium.  Mid neck to 2 to 4 inches long is short.  Pixie is very short.  Just my thoughts.



Posted By: mysty
Date Posted: Apr 7, 2005 at 1:42pm
I am growing my hair out and it is now past my shoulders aboutalmost mid back, would that be considered long// I am 5'3"!,$ (bb $4$ .< /.4`r $. ( )$-!!)(,,$`r .


Posted By: Karen Shelton
Date Posted: Apr 7, 2005 at 2:03pm

Hi Mysty,

Welcome to HairTalk.

I often have to categorize the images in our galleries...so here is what I use as a general rule of thumb for defining hair lengths:

1.  No hair - bald
2.  Fuzz covering - fade or fuzz covering
3.  Hair that covers the head but generally above the ears - very short
4.  Hair from the ears to the chin - short hair
5.  Hair from chin to the top of the shoulders - medium length
6.  Hair from shoulders to the bra strap - bra strap length aka BSL
7.  Hair from BSL to the waist - waist length long hair
8.  Hair from Waist to the bottom of the derrierre - Classic length long hair.
9.  From derrierre to mid thigh - thigh length
10. From mid-thigh to knees - knee length
11. From knees to mid calf - calf length
12. From mid calf to ankles - ankle length
13.  From ankles to the floor - floorlength
14.  Floorlength + inches - floorlength plus

When it comes to what is considered long...it is all relative.  It is sort of like how high is up or how hot is hot? 

A lot depends on your height, your weight, your hair texture (curly and wavy hair will not stretch full length w/out help) and your attitude.

I remember when I was first growing out my hair I went to a long hair salon.  The woman making my appontment asked how long my hair was.  I proudly proclaimed that it was at the bottom of my bra clasp.  I was so excited.  She said...oh I can book you because we have time for a short hair at 11:00 am.  I almost cried.

But then I got to the salon and the walls were covered with women with floor length tresses.  Arggghhhhh.

I think when describing your own "long hair" you need to describe it how you feel comfortable.  My own hair is approximately 5" below my waist and would probably be considered "classic length" but sometimes I feel a light brush against the top of my thighs.  What a thrill.  But anyway, I usually say....x inches below my waist.  It feels the best way for me.

Again...it is all subjective. When I am talking to Dave Decker on the phone I feel like I have a crewcut because his hair is sooooo much longer than mine, he has been growing it longer AND he is taller. 

And then there is Lady Godiva (hey LG) who has awesome hair that is wayyyyyyyyyy longer than mine will probably ever be.  So to me, I have relatively short hair, but to everyone here at HB.com they talk about my super long hair.

Find your own comfort zone and chill out there.  :-)

Best wishes,
karen

Karen Shelton38449.5873032407 !$ Shab` dbe ,%4 b` , 8bp - )%! )-% !$ -,$`r /2


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: Apr 7, 2005 at 6:55pm
Originally Posted By: Karen Shelton#``.,&$@ !` @hd
You are too funny, Karen.  Your hair is NOT short!  It is not only long, it is very long! 

Welcome Mysty/Cindy!  I agree with Karen that "long" is a subjective term.


Posted By: mysty
Date Posted: Apr 10, 2005 at 5:59pm
Thanks Karen and Dave, well I measured again the way they said on here and it is 23" , now to me this is Long...and gettin longer   I love the support on here it is fantastic and all the great tips.  I agree Karen to me your hair is loooooooooooong, but then when your growing it out it can never be long enuff, I say I want mid back but I know IF it will , I want it longer.  So thanks for the welcome and all the help!!! mysty38452.8283912037!,$ (bb $4$ .< /.4`r $. ( )$-!!)(,,$`r .


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Apr 23, 2005 at 3:20pm
measuring from my hairline, my hair is 30 and a bit inches long...would you guys count thant as long? (It reaches my elbows.)


Posted By: laststar
Date Posted: Apr 23, 2005 at 3:26pm
That sounds good to me,  I am at 23 inches  and hope to be near 30 at the end of the year.  Elbow length is exactly what I want but it will need more than 30 to get there but it will be a great start.  How long do you want it? 0 - Ai dape ),4 `b ($0 ` .& !! -$ %-!!-0" '.


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Apr 24, 2005 at 7:26am
I quite like my hair as it is which is probably good as I don't think it'll grow any longer but it'd be quite nice if it reached my waist. Any longer and I'd probably get frustrated and chop it all off!


Posted By: norskygrl21
Date Posted: May 2, 2005 at 11:09am
Oh, the woes of being (sorta) tall  I am not even that tall (maybe for a woman I am above the norm) at 5'7" inches, and my hair is not even to my bra strap, yet it is 22 inches. I read earlier on this topic that someone who was 5' had hair that was almost waistlength and it was 22 inches! Not too mention I probably need a good inch trimmed and I have been procrastinating going into a salon. I hate my hair, what I wouldn't give for a mane like my sisters. Hers is like a horse's tail, numerous stylists have said she has the thickest head of female hair they have ever worked on (and to add insult to injury it grows over an inch a month, while mine barely measures the standard half inch) Those darn genetics......0- Ba%Nape`d 2 `b ($0 r &8 !!% -$ -,8`` ,


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: May 2, 2005 at 11:37am
poor u! I know the feeling! I am the same height as u. 


Posted By: Tee7688
Date Posted: May 2, 2005 at 8:38pm
i'm 5'1 so i would believe that the girl had waist length hair that was 22" and is 5'0. I personally dont want my hair to go past bra strap but instead just aboveit, like halfway between my shoulders and bra strap.


Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: May 3, 2005 at 6:55am
Norskygrl21 and LadyFrog, don't worry about being tall...It may take your hair longer to get it where you want it, but when it does get there, it will be even more loooooong! (comparatively speaking).  I'm 5'8" so I'm right there with you in the loooong slow journey.

!)) C ed``d ` %44`r #.,bb $ !,) ! (!) !!$` ,.


Posted By: Katja
Date Posted: May 4, 2005 at 6:07pm

That's one thing I really like about being short

But like Susan W said, tall people with really long hair have such longer hair inchwise.

$ Ca'ba dbd $!(,`b $4`r .-% !,$ !%!),, `p #


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: May 5, 2005 at 11:34am
But it looks shorter. 


Posted By: Lady Godiva
Date Posted: May 5, 2005 at 7:30pm
Originally Posted By: Susan W#d $$ 0 @ @ ` And you can reach your goal, I am sure.  I'm also 5'8", and I'm closing in on my goal.  It's taken me over 17 years!
< -, aaja4 0 $ 4`r <$`2!$) -$)$!,-%-, bp .


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: May 6, 2005 at 12:42pm
You're 5'8" and you've still managed to get your hair to your ankles???? NO wonder it took you ages!
(sorry, I keep enthusing about your hair but it's so long!!)


Posted By: Susan W
Date Posted: May 6, 2005 at 2:42pm
17 years?!!!  Dang!  Your goal must have been the floor, right?  Do you find your hair still grows a typical 1/2 inch a month?  Or does it go slower after a certain point?  (hoping it doesn't! )

!)) C ed``d ` %44`r #.,bb $ !,) ! (!) !!$` ,.


Posted By: DaveDecker
Date Posted: May 8, 2005 at 12:56pm
Speaking for myself (not for Lady Godiva), it still grows at the usual rate (6 inches per year), but since I am fast closing in on terminal length the growth is barely noticeable (most hairs having been shed before getting to the length of the longest strands).

Nobody should feel badly about being tall, or short.  Height does not determine the beauty of a woman. 


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Oct 20, 2005 at 10:18am
yay, lets resurrect this post! So, what do YOU consider long all you people who weren't there at the time!


Posted By: Tyranna
Date Posted: Oct 20, 2005 at 12:16pm
I suppose mid-back (maybe two to three inches above the bra strap) and longer.


Posted By: missrini
Date Posted: Oct 20, 2005 at 10:21pm

I would consider hair above shoulder length to be short, hair below shoulders, but above waist (including the BSL) would be medium and then I'd consider waist length hair to be long. Anything beyond is just really long   

I'm personally looking forward to waist length (a couple of years away for me I think....although I will know more next month when I can work out my monthly growth)  I have gone from short to medium in a very short space of time, so that is encouraging



Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Oct 21, 2005 at 11:26am
personally, I think that above shoulders is short, shoulders to bsl is medium, bsl downwards is long, classic is very long and longerthan that is just getting silly...


Posted By: AnaisSatin
Date Posted: Oct 21, 2005 at 11:33am
...Silly? $$ )'```ara $).,`` %*,`r !,,!-- ,,)-% ! " $4


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Oct 22, 2005 at 11:12am
u know what i mean... lol


Posted By: AnaisSatin
Date Posted: Oct 22, 2005 at 8:26pm
Heehee, I was just teasing $$ )'```ara $).,`` %*,`r !,,!-- ,,)-% ! " $4


Posted By: LadyFrog
Date Posted: Oct 23, 2005 at 2:39pm
i know...


Posted By: kimberlily
Date Posted: Oct 25, 2005 at 10:20am
I'd say anything longer than BSL is long :)



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